• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2024

The Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging-Practical Tutorial (ASCI-PT) is an instructional initiative of the ASCI School designed to enhance educational standards. In 2021, the ASCI-PT was convened with the goal of formulating a consensus statement on the assessment of coronary stenosis and coronary plaque using coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Nineteen experts from four countries conducted thorough reviews of current guidelines and deliberated on eight key issues to refine the process and improve the clarity of reporting CCTA findings. The experts engaged in both online and on-site sessions to establish a unified agreement. This document presents a summary of the ASCI-PT 2021 deliberations and offers a comprehensive consensus statement on the evaluation of coronary stenosis and coronary plaque in CCTA.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2024

To investigate the seismic performance of steel pipe-aeolian sand recycled concrete columns, this study designed and produced five specimens. Low-cycle repeated load tests were conducted while maintaining a constant axial compression ratio. The experiment aimed to examine the impact of different aeolian sand replacement rates on the seismic performance of these columns. The test results revealed that the mechanical failure modes of the steel pipe-recycled concrete column and the steel pipe-aeolian sand recycled concrete column were similar. Plastic hinges formed and developed at the column foot, and severe local buckling occurred at the bottom of the steel pipe. Interestingly, the bulging height of the damaged steel pipe was reduced for the specimen mixed with an appropriate amount of wind-deposited sand under the same lateral displacement. The hysteresis curves of all five specimens tested were relatively full, with no significant pinching phenomenon observed. Moreover, compared to steel tube-recycled concrete columns, the steel tube-aeolian sand recycled concrete columns exhibited improved seismic energy dissipation capacity and ductility. However, it was noted that as the aeolian sand replacement rate increased, the bearing capacity of the specimen increased first and then decreased. The seismic performance of the specimen was relatively optimal when the aeolian sand replacement rate was 30%. Upon analysis and comparison, the damage analysis model based on stiffness and energy consumption showed good agreement with the test results and proved suitable for evaluating the damage degree of steel pipe-wind-sand recycled concrete structures.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2006

Purpose: According to the development of CT scanner in PET/CT system, the role of CT unit as a diagnostic tool has been more important. To improve the diagnostic ability of CT scanner, it is a key aspect that CT scanning has to be performed with high dose energy and intravenous (IV) contrast. So we investigated the effect of IV contrast media on the maximum SUV (maxSUV) of normal tissues and pathologic lesions using PET/CT scanner with high dose CT scanning. Materials & Methods: The study enrolled 13 patients who required PET/CT evaluation. At first, the patients were performed whole body non-contrast CT (NCCT-120 kVp, 130 mAs) scan. Then contrast enhanced CT (CECT) scan was performed immediately. Finally PET scan was followed. The PET omission data were reconstructed twice, once with the NCCT and again with the CECT. We measured the maxSUV of 10 different body regions that were considered as normal in ail patients. Also pathologic lesions were investigated. Results: There were not seen focal artifacts in PET images based on CT with IV contrast agent. Firstly, 130 normal regions in 13 patients were evaluated. The maxSUV was significantly different between two PET images (p<0.00)). The maxSUV was $1.1{\pm}0.5$ in PET images with CECT-corrected attenuation and $1.0{\pm}0.5$ in PET images with NCCI-corrected attenuation. The limit of agreement was $0.1{\pm}0.3$ in Bland-Altman analysis. Especially there were significant differences in 6 of 10 regions, apex and base of the right lung, ascending aorta, segment 6 & segment 8 of the liver and spleen (p<0.05). Secondly, 39 pathologic lesions were evaluated. The maxSUV was significantly different between two PET images (p<0.001). The maxSUV was $4.7{\pm}2.0$ in PET images with CECT-corrected attenuation and $4.4{\pm}2.0$ in PET images with NCCT-corrected attenuation. The limit of agreement was $0.4{\pm}0.8$ in Bland-Altman analysis. Conclusion: Although there were increases of maxSUVs in the PET images based on CT with IV contrast agent, it was very narrow in the range of limit of agreement. So there was no significant effect to clinical interpretation for PET images that were corrected attenuation with high dose CT using IV contrast.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2009

Purpose: Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was usually performed by the batch assay. To improve the efficiency of RIA without increase of the cost and time, random assay could be a choice. We investigated the possibility of the random assay using automatic dispenser by assessing the agreement between batch assay and random assay. Materials and Methods: The experiments were performed with four items; Triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (fT4), Prostate specific antigen (PSA), Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). In each item, the sera of twenty patients, the standard, and the control samples were used. The measurements were done 4 times with 3 hour time intervals by random assay and batch assay. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the standard samples and patients' data in T3, fT4, PSA, and CEA were assessed. ICC (Intraclass correlation coefficient) and coefficient of correlation were measured to assessing the agreement between two methods. Results: The CVs (%) of T3, fT4, PSA, and CEA measured by batch assay were 3.2$\pm$1.7%, 3.9$\pm$2.1%, 7.1$\pm$6.2%, 11.2$\pm$7.2%. The CVs by random assay were 2.1$\pm$1.7%, 4.8$\pm$3.1%, 3.6$\pm$4.8%, and 7.4$\pm$6.2%. The ICC between the batch assay and random assay were 0.9968 (T3), 0.9973 (fT4), 0.9996 (PSA), and 0.9901 (CEA). The coefficient of correlation between the batch assay and random assay were 0.9924(T3), 0.9974 (fT4), 0.9994 (PSA), and 0.9989 (CEA) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of random assay showed strong agreement with the batch assay in a day. These results suggest that random assay using automatic dispenser could be used in radioimmunoassay.

• Strategy21
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• s.30
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• pp.99-142
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• 2012

Withe increased North Korea's security threats, the South Korean navy has been faced with deteriorating security environment. While North Korea has increased asymmetric forces in the maritime and underwater with the development of nuclear weapons, and China and Japan have made a large investment in the buildup of naval forces, the power of the Pacific fleet of the US, a key ally is expected to be weakened. The biggest threat comes from China's intervention in case of full-scale war with North Korea, but low-density conflict issues are also serious problems. North Korea has violated the Armistice Agreement 2,660 times since the end of Korean War, among which the number of marine provocations reaches 1,430 times, and the tension over the NLL issue has been intensifying. With tension mounting between Korea and Japan over the Dokdo issue and conflict escalating with China over Ieo do Islet, the US Navy has confronted situation where it cannot fully concentrate on the security of the Korean peninsula, which leads to need for strengthening of South Korea's naval forces. Let's look at naval forces of neighboring countries. North Korea is threatening South Korean navy with its increased asymmetric forces, including submarines. China has achieved the remarkable development of naval forces since the promotion of 3-step plan to strengthen naval power from 1989, and it now retains highly modernized naval forces. Japan makes an investment in the construction of stat of the art warship every year. Since Japan's warship boasts of its advanced performance, Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force is evaluated the second most powerful behind the US Navy on the assumption that submarine power is not included in the naval forces. In this situation, naval power construction of South Korean navy should be done in phases, focusing on the followings; First, military strength to repel the energy warship quickly without any damage in case of battle with North Korea needs to be secured. Second, it is necessary to develop abilities to discourage the use of nuclear weapons of North Korea and attack its nuclear facilities in case of emergency. Third, construction of military power to suppress armed provocations from China and Japan is required. Based on the above naval power construction methods, the direction of power construction is suggested as follows. The sea fleet needs to build up its war potential to defeat the naval forces of North Korea quickly and participate in anti-submarine operations in response to North Korea's provocations. The task fleet should be composed of 3 task flotilla and retain the power to support the sea fleet and suppress the occurrence of maritime disputes with neighboring countries. In addition, it is necessary to expand submarine power, a high value power asset in preparation for establishment of submarine headquarters in 2015, develop anti-submarine helicopter and load SLAM-ER missile onto P-3C patrol aircraft. In case of maine corps, division class military force should be able to conduct landing operations. It takes more than 10 years to construct a new warship. Accordingly, it is necessary to establish plans for naval power construction carefully in consideration of reality and future. For the naval forces to safeguard maritime sovereignty and contribute to national security, the acquisition of a huge budget and buildup of military power is required. In this regard, enhancement of naval power can be achieved only through national, political and military understanding and agreement. It is necessary to let the nation know that modern naval forces with improved weapon system can serve as comprehensive armed forces to secure the command of the sea, perform defense of territory and territorial sky and attack the enemy's strategic facilities and budget inputted in the naval forces is the essential source for early end of the war and minimization of damage to the people. If the naval power construction is not realized, we can be faced with a national disgrace of usurpation of national sovereignty of 100 years ago. Accordingly, the strengthening of naval forces must be realized.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.585-593
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• 2000

Background : International consensus guidelines have recently been developed to improve the assessment and management of asthma. One of the major recommendation of these guidelines is that asthma severity should be assessed through the recognition of key symptoms, such as nocturnal waking, medication requirements, and objective measurements of lung function. Differential classification of asthma severity would lead to major differences in both long term pharmacological management and the treatment of severe exacerbation. Methods : This study examined the relationship between the symptom score and measurements of $FEV_1$ and PEF when expressed as a percentage of predicted values in asthmatics (n=107). Results : The correlation of $FEV_1$ % with PEFR% was highly significant (r=0.83, p<0.01). However, there was agreement in terms of the classification of asthma severity in 76.6% of the paired measurements of $FEV_1$ % and PEFR%. Agreement in the classification of asthma severity was also found in 57.1% of the paired analysis of $FEV_1$ % and symptom score. 39% of the patients classified as having moderate asthma on the basis of $FEV_1$ % recording would be considered to have severe asthma if symptom score alone were used. Low baseline $FEV_1$ and high bronchial responsiveness were associated with a low degree of perception of airway obstruction. Conclusion : The relationships between the symptom score, PEFR and $FEV_1$ were generally poor. When assessing asthma severity, age, duration, $PC_{20}$, and baseline $FEV_1$ should be considered.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2016

The powder core, conventionally fabricated from iron particles coated with insulator, showed large eddy current loss under high frequency, because of small specific resistance. To overcome the eddy current loss, the increase in the specific resistance of powder cores was needed. In this study, copper oxide coating onto electrically conductive iron particles was performed using a planetary ball mill to increase the specific resistance. Coating factors were optimized by the Response surface methodology. The independent variables were the CuO mass fraction, mill revolution number, coating time, ball size, ball mass and sample mass. The response variable was the specific resistance. The optimization of six factors by the fractional factorial design indicated that CuO mass fraction, mill revolution number, and coating time were the key factors. The levels of these three factors were selected by the three-factors full factorial design and steepest ascent method. The steepest ascent method was used to approach the optimum range for maximum specific resistance. The Box-Behnken design was finally used to analyze the response surfaces of the screened factors for further optimization. The results of the Box-Behnken design showed that the CuO mass fraction and mill revolution number were the main factors affecting the efficiency of coating process. As the CuO mass fraction increased, the specific resistance increased. In contrast, the specific resistance increased with decreasing mill revolution number. The process optimization results revealed a high agreement between the experimental and the predicted data ($Adj-R^2=0.944$). The optimized CuO mass fraction, mill revolution number, and coating time were 0.4, 200 rpm, and 15 min, respectively. The measured value of the specific resistance of the coated pellet under the optimized conditions of the maximum specific resistance was $530k{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2014

Background: Propofol (2.6-diisopropylphenol) is a widely used intravenous anesthetic agent for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia during surgeries and sedation for ICU patients. Propofol has a structural similarity to the endogenous antioxidant vitamin E and exhibits antioxidant activities.13) However, the mechanism of propofol on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated how P-PostC influences the autophagy and cell death, a cellular damage occurring during the H/R injury. Methods: The groups were randomly divided into the following groups: Control: cells were incubated in normoxia (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2) without propofol treatment. H/R: cells were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia (5% CO2, 1% O2, and 94% N2) followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (5% CO2, 21% O2, and 74% N2). H/R + P-PostC: cells post-treated with propofol were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia followed by 12 h of reoxygenation. 3-MA + P-PostC: cells pretreated with 3-MA and post-treated propofol were exposed to 24 h of hypoxia followed by 12 h of reoxygenation Results: The results of our present study provides a new direction of research on mechanisms of propofol-mediated cytoprotection. There are three principal findings of these studies. First, the application of P-PostC at the onset of reoxygenation after hypoxia significantly increased COS-7 cell viability. Second, the cellular protective effect of P-PostC in H/R induced COS-7 cells was probably related to activation of intra-cellular autophagy. And third, the autophagy pathway inhibitor 3-MA blocked the protective effect of P-PostC on cell viability, suggesting a key role of autophagy in cellular protective effect of P-PostC. Conclusions: These data provided evidence that P-PostC reduced cell death in H/R model of COS-7 cells, which was in agreement with the protection by P-PostC demonstrated in isolated COS-7 cells exposed to H/R injury. Although the this study could not represent the protection by P-PostC in vivo, the data demonstrate another model in which endogenous mechanisms evoked by P-PostC protected the COS-7 cells exposed to H/R injury from cell death.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.365-382
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• 2016

The results from the Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of the Mobile Observation Vehicle (MOVE) on the eastern coast of Korea have been compared with REFerence (REF) values from the fixed GPS sites to assess the performance of Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) retrievals in a kinematic environment. MOVE-PWV retrievals had comparatively similar trends and fairly good agreements with REF-PWV with a Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) of 7.4 mm and $R^2$ of 0.61, indicating statistical significance with a p-value of 0.01. PWV retrievals from the June cases showed better agreement than those of the other month cases, with a mean bias of 2.1 mm and RMSE of 3.8 mm. We further investigated the relationships of the determinant factors of GPS signals with the PWV retrievals for detailed error analysis. As a result, both MultiPath (MP) errors of L1 and L2 pseudo-range had the best indices for the June cases, 0.75-0.99 m. We also found that both Position Dilution Of Precision (PDOP) and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) values in the June cases were better than those in other cases. That is, the analytical results of the key factors such as MP errors, PDOP, and SNR that can affect GPS signals should be considered for obtaining more stable performance. The data of MOVE can be used to provide water vapor information with high spatial and temporal resolutions in the case of dramatic changes of severe weather such as those frequently occurring in the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2007

Over the past few decades, considerable numbers of studies on the durability of concrete have been carried out extensively. A lot of improvements have been achieved especially in both measuring techniques as well as modeling of ionic flows. However, the majority of these researches have been performed on sound uncracked concrete, although most of in-situ concrete structures have more or less micro-cracks. It is only recent approach that the attention has shifted towards the influence of cracks and crack width on the penetration of chloride into concrete. The penetration of chlorides into concrete through the cracks can make a significant harmful effect on reinforcement corrosion. On the other hand, a general acceptable crack width of 0.3 mm has been recognized for keeping the serviceability of concrete structures in accordance with a lot of codes. However, there seems to be rare established description to explain the critical crack width in terms of the durability of concrete. To make a bad situation worse, there is little agreement on critical crack width among a few of literatures for this issue. Critical crack width is still controversial problem. Nevertheless, since the critical crack width is important key for healthy assessment of concrete structures exposed to marine environment, it should be established. The objective of this study is to define a critical crack width. The critical crack width in this study is designed for a threshold crack width, which contributes to the first variation of chloride diffusion coefficient in responsive to the existence of cracks. A simple solution is formulated to realize the quantifiable parameter, chloride diffusion coefficient for only cracked zone excluding sound concrete. From the examination on the trend of chloride diffusion coefficient of only cracked zone for various crack widths, a critical crack width is founded out.